Post by Busby Boy on May 22, 2006 15:01:18 GMT
home.skysports.com/worldcup/article.asp?hlid=389095&CPID=4&clid=114&lid=2&title=Eriksson:+Owen+is+on+fire
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As an England fan it's good news that Owen is 100% fit, because he is vital to England. Hopefully, we'll have some more good news on Thursday!
Sven Goran Eriksson feels Michael Owen is "on fire" but he is still remaining cautious about the likelihood of Wayne Rooney taking part in the World Cup finals.
Newcastle United hit-man Owen is making good, if belated, progress from his broken foot and will start Thursday's B international against Belarus at Reading's Madejski Stadium.
Eriksson is delighted with how his players looked during the break in Portugal but is refusing to get carried away over Rooney's fitness before a scan on Thursday reveals whether his fractured metatarsal has healed.
"I don't think it's right to talk about it today," said the Swede on Sky Sports News. "He will have a scan on Thursday.
"After that, we will hopefully know more or less when he's ready. I know he is working very well.
"We are in contact with him and the doctors, of course, regularly and he's doing very well so far but it's a bone so they have to see the scan.
"I have always been optimistic about it, always I have said Rooney will play in the World Cup.
"I don't know what he [the team doctor] said but, so far, everything is okay. Let's wait until Thursday.
"Nobody knows today. I always said I think more with the heart than with the head that he will take part in the World Cup. Let's wait until Thursday, we'll know much better on Friday morning."
Eriksson scoffed at suggestions there could be a dispute between England and Manchester United over the 20-year-old's availability.
"I don't think there will be any dispute at all," he stated. "It's a bone.
"If he still has problems, a scan will tell you. The scan is there - that's a fact.
"I don't think there will be any problem.
"Well, Rooney will not be fit on Friday to play, that's for sure," he said when quizzed on a comeback date. "Hopefully, he can train but I don't know. Let's wait until Thursday - it's only speculation coming out so let's wait and see."
The positive news on Owen was confirmed by Eriksson, who is delighted with the sharpness of the Newcastle striker.
"We tested them last week in Portugal and the result of that is very, very positive," he stressed. "Much better than four years ago, and much better than two years ago.
"In general, that's excellent.
"Owen is hungry to play football and you could see that last week. He was on fire.
"The start [for us] was last week. We had four very good sessions. The boys worked very hard. They looked very sharp.
"I remember four years ago and it was nothing like it was last week.
"We have one more week this time, if we compare it with Portugal and Japan, and I always said that it will make miracles because it's very important. Before the other tournaments, it was three weeks between the cup final and the start of the tournament. Now we have one more week and it's very good."
Newcastle United hit-man Owen is making good, if belated, progress from his broken foot and will start Thursday's B international against Belarus at Reading's Madejski Stadium.
Eriksson is delighted with how his players looked during the break in Portugal but is refusing to get carried away over Rooney's fitness before a scan on Thursday reveals whether his fractured metatarsal has healed.
"I don't think it's right to talk about it today," said the Swede on Sky Sports News. "He will have a scan on Thursday.
"After that, we will hopefully know more or less when he's ready. I know he is working very well.
"We are in contact with him and the doctors, of course, regularly and he's doing very well so far but it's a bone so they have to see the scan.
"I have always been optimistic about it, always I have said Rooney will play in the World Cup.
"I don't know what he [the team doctor] said but, so far, everything is okay. Let's wait until Thursday.
"Nobody knows today. I always said I think more with the heart than with the head that he will take part in the World Cup. Let's wait until Thursday, we'll know much better on Friday morning."
Eriksson scoffed at suggestions there could be a dispute between England and Manchester United over the 20-year-old's availability.
"I don't think there will be any dispute at all," he stated. "It's a bone.
"If he still has problems, a scan will tell you. The scan is there - that's a fact.
"I don't think there will be any problem.
"Well, Rooney will not be fit on Friday to play, that's for sure," he said when quizzed on a comeback date. "Hopefully, he can train but I don't know. Let's wait until Thursday - it's only speculation coming out so let's wait and see."
The positive news on Owen was confirmed by Eriksson, who is delighted with the sharpness of the Newcastle striker.
"We tested them last week in Portugal and the result of that is very, very positive," he stressed. "Much better than four years ago, and much better than two years ago.
"In general, that's excellent.
"Owen is hungry to play football and you could see that last week. He was on fire.
"The start [for us] was last week. We had four very good sessions. The boys worked very hard. They looked very sharp.
"I remember four years ago and it was nothing like it was last week.
"We have one more week this time, if we compare it with Portugal and Japan, and I always said that it will make miracles because it's very important. Before the other tournaments, it was three weeks between the cup final and the start of the tournament. Now we have one more week and it's very good."
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As an England fan it's good news that Owen is 100% fit, because he is vital to England. Hopefully, we'll have some more good news on Thursday!
